Ajit Doval - Wikipedia
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5th National Security Advisor of India (born 1945)
Ajit Kumar Doval
IPS
KC
Doval in 2015
5th
National Security Advisor of India
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 May 2014
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
Preceded by
Shivshankar Menon
Director of the Intelligence Bureau
In office
31 July 2004 – 31 January 2005
Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh
Preceded by
K. P. Singh
Succeeded by
E. S. L. Narasimhan
Personal details
Born
(
1945-01-20
)
20 January 1945
(age 81)
Ghiri Banelsyun
,
United Provinces
,
British Raj
(present-day
Uttarakhand
, India)
Spouse
Aruni Doval
(
m.
1972)
Children
2
Alma mater
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University
(
MA
)
National Defence College
(
M.Phil.
)
Occupation
Spymaster
Profession
Bureaucrat
Awards
Kirti Chakra
Police Medal
President's Police Medal
Ajit Kumar Doval
(born 20 January 1945) is an Indian
bureaucrat
,
spymaster
and retired police and intelligence officer who has been serving as the longest tenured
National Security Advisor of India
(NSA) since 2014. Doval is serving his third consecutive five-year term as NSA. During his second tenure he was given Cabinet rank. Doval previously held the position of
Director
of the
Intelligence Bureau
from 2004 to 2005, after leading its operations wing for over a decade. He worked as a career intelligence officer for over 33 years. He is recognized for his contributions to counter-terrorism and covert missions.
Born in
Pauri Garhwal
in present-day
Uttarakhand
, Doval completed his education from
Ajmer Military School
,
Agra University
, and the
National Defence College
. After clearing his
Union Public Service Commission
(UPSC) examination in 1968 he joined the
Indian Police Service
as a Kerala cadre officer. In 1972 he joined the
Intelligence Bureau
. His field assignments have spanned Mizoram, Sikkim, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. He has held diplomatic assignments at the
Indian High Commission in Islamabad
and
London
. He received the
Kirti Chakra
gallantry award in 1989, becoming the first police officer to receive the second-highest peacetime military honour. Doval was also involved in multiple negotiations of hijacked
Indian Airlines
aircraft. At headquarters he was founder chairman of the
Multi Agency Centre
and the Joint Task Force on Intelligence.
He retired as
chief
of the Intelligence Bureau in January 2005. In retirement he gave lectures, interviews and wrote
op-eds
. Around 2008, he helped set up the
Rashtriya Raksha University
. In 2009, he became founder director of the
Vivekananda International Foundation
, a public policy think tank based in New Delhi, and served as its director until his appointment as NSA. Major military operations during Doval's tenure include
Operation Hot Pursuit
, the
Balakot airstrike
and
Operation Sindoor
. The
Doklam standoff
was eventually resolved through diplomatic channels and negotiations.
Early life, education and personal life
Doval was born in 1945 in Ghiri Banelsyun village in
Pauri Garhwal
in
United Provinces
(now in
Uttarakhand
) in the erstwhile British Raj (currently
India
).
[
1
]
[
2
]
He is the son of GN Doval and Indra Doval.
[
3
]
Doval's father,
Major
Gunanand Doval, was an officer in the Indian Army.
[
4
]
[
5
]
He served in the
Bengal Sappers
for 36 years.
[
4
]
Doval received his early education at the
Ajmer Military School
in
Ajmer
, Rajasthan.
[
6
]
He graduated with a bachelor's and master's degree in
economics
from
Agra University
in 1967.
[
7
]
[
8
]
During his master's he secured first position.
[
9
]
[
10
]
The following year Doval cleared the
Union Public Service Commission
(UPSC) examination.
[
11
]
He went on to graduate from the 30th course of the
National Defence College
, New Delhi, in 1990.
[
9
]
[
12
]
He married Aruni Doval in 1972 and has two children
Shaurya
and Vivek Doval.
[
8
]
During a lecture in 2015, Doval said that he comes from a vegetarian family however his work led him to eat non-vegetarian food as well.
[
13
]
During a dialogue in January 2026 Doval was asked a question about how he uses communication tools, he elaborated that he largely does not use the internet for work, and the phone only for family and when speaking to people abroad. He stated that there were also other methods of communication not used by the general public.
[
14
]
[
15
]
He does not have a social media account.
[
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]
He is fluent in Urdu.
[
17
]
Police and intelligence career (1968–2005)
Doval joined the
Indian Police Service
(IPS) in 1968 in the
Kerala
cadre as the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of
Kottayam
district in Kerala.
[
18
]
[
19
]
In 1972, he was transferred to riot hit
Thalassery
, Kerala.
[
20
]
He was there for a few months between January and June 1972.
[
20
]
In the same year he went on to join the central service, the
Intelligence Bureau
(IB).
[
6
]
His government job in the IB largely saw him as a "typical undercover agent".
[
21
]
One of Doval's first assignments in the IB was to tackle the insurgency in
northeast India
, specifically in
Mizoram
.
[
6
]
Between 1972 and 1977 he officially led the IBs Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau in
Aizawl
.
[
6
]
Doval spent these five years mostly undercover.
[
21
]
During this period he was awarded the
Police Medal
for meritorious service in 1974.
[
22
]
Doval had a role in laying the groundwork for negotiation, the 1976 agreement,
[
6
]
and eventually the
Mizoram Peace Accord
of 1986.
[
11
]
[
21
]
[
23
]
He was the man behind turning six of seven of
Laldenga
's commanders.
[
21
]
He had a role in
Sikkim's merger
with India in 1975 encompassing political engineering, liaisoning and facilitation.
[
11
]
[
24
]
He was head of the IBs Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau in Sikkim.
[
6
]
Doval was in Pakistan for seven years.
[
6
]
[
25
]
He worked at the
Indian High Commission in Islamabad
from 1983 to 1987.
[
26
]
Officially he was head of the commercial section.
[
27
]
His undercover roles in Pakistan would allow him to visit mosques for prayers and make friends through which he could gather relevant information.
[
28
]
To fit the role, he had to get plastic surgery done on his pierced ears.
[
28
]
[
29
]
Working undercover in Pakistan as a beggar, he collected hair from scientists from a barber shop; this hair tested positive for signs of uranium, helping to expose Pakistan's nuclear programme.
[
30
]
[
31
]
He also kept a watch over Sikh pilgrims and the separatist propaganda they faced.
[
27
]
In 1988 during
Operation Black Thunder
he infiltrated the
Golden temple
posing as a Pakistani agent disguised as a rickshaw puller, spied on
Khalistani separatists
, and gathered information.
[
17
]
[
32
]
[
33
]
He would go on to receive the
Kirti Chakra
for his role in the operation.
[
33
]
[
34
]
At the time Doval was a joint director in the IB.
[
32
]
Insurgency in Punjab
would keep him occupied for nearly a decade.
[
27
]
In 1991 he headed the operation as a joint director to rescue a captured Romanian diplomat from four Sikh militant groups including
Bhindranwale Tiger Force
.
[
35
]
[
36
]
In the 1990s he turned militant
Kuka Parray
.
[
37
]
[
38
]
He also helped bring other Kashmiri separatists to the negotiating table.
[
39
]
Between 1992 and 1996 he was posted at
India House, London
.
[
6
]
He has the experience of being involved in the termination of all 15 hijackings of
Indian Airlines
aircraft from 1971 to 1999,
[
40
]
[
28
]
[
39
]
[
page needed
]
a notable instance was the 1999
hijacked aeroplane IC-814
.
[
41
]
[
22
]
[
42
]
Doval would go on to say the negotiation was a diplomatic failure.
[
43
]
This was the first time Doval would come under the gaze of the media.
[
6
]
[
22
]
He was trained under
M. K. Narayanan
, the third National Security Advisor of India for a brief period in counterterrorism operations.
[
44
]
[
27
]
[
39
]
In the headquarters, he headed IB's operations wing for over a decade and was founder Chairman of the
Multi Agency Centre
(MAC), as well as of the Joint Task Force on Intelligence (JTFI).
[
33
]
[
36
]
[
39
]
[
1
]
He was appointed
Director
of IB in July 2004 and held the post until his retirement in January 2005.
[
22
]
[
45
]
[
46
]
Doval's career as an intelligence officer spanned over 33 years.
[
47
]
In 2004 Doval was made president of the
International Association of Chiefs of Police
for Asia and Pacific region.
[
9
]
[
48
]
Post-retirement (2005–2014)
Doval retired in January 2005 as Director,
Intelligence Bureau
.
[
46
]
He continued working unofficially.
[
37
]
In July 2005, Doval was briefly detained by Mumbai Police alongside Vicky Malhotra and Farid Tanasha, two members of
Chhota Rajan
's gang. Doval had been working on a secret plan to kill
Dawood Ibrahim
in Dubai where he was attending his daughter's wedding. Mumbai Police were unaware of Doval's involvement of the plot as they had gone in to arrest the two gangsters.
[
49
]
[
50
]
Doval remained actively involved in the discourse on national security in India. Besides writing editorial pieces for several leading newspapers and journals, he delivered lectures on India's security challenges and foreign policy objectives at several renowned government and non-governmental institutions, security think-tanks in India and abroad.
[
6
]
[
51
]
[
52
]
[
53
]
[
citation needed
]
Around 2008, Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, brought in Doval to set up a university, the
Rashtriya Raksha University
.
[
6
]
[
54
]
In January 2009, he was chosen by the
Government of Karnataka
as its security advisor.
[
55
]
In December 2009, he became the founding Director of the
Vivekananda International Foundation
(VIF), a public policy think tank set up by the
Vivekananda Kendra
.
[
56
]
[
57
]
In 2009 and 2012 he co-wrote two reports on "Indian Black Money Abroad in Secret Banks and Tax Havens" as a part of a task force constituted by
Bharatiya Janata Party
.
[
58
]
[
59
]
In 2012, IB kept eyes on him due to then ruling party Congress's suspicions that Doval and VIF were the brains behind
Ramdev
and
Anna Hazare
led anti-corruption movement, which generated anger against the government.
[
60
]
As director VIF, he has delivered guest lectures at
National Defence College
,
Centre for Land Warfare Studies
,
Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis
,
Bureau of Police Research and Development
,
Lal Bahadur Shashtri National Academy of Administration
,
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry
,
Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini
,
IIT Delhi
,
Jamia Milia Islamia University
,
Osmania University
,
Maharaja Agrasen College
,
Kanpur University
, and
Shri Ram College of Commerce
among others. Lectures at foreign locations include
International Institute of Strategic Studies
,
International Security Forum
,
American Foreign Policy Council
,
Capitol Hill
, Keizai Koho Centre, and
Project Interchange
.
[
61
]
[
62
]
[
63
]
Doval has written on Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China, however comparatively very little on other countries.
[
64
]
On being named the NSA, he stepped down from his post as director of VIF in 2014.
[
21
]
National Security Advisor (2014–present)
NSA Doval meets with
US secretary of state
John Kerry
in
Washington DC
First term
On 30 May 2014, Doval was appointed as India's fifth
National Security Advisor
(NSA).
[
65
]
Doval will hold the post as long as Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister, or until further orders.
[
51
]
He was appointed as the Prime Minister's special envoy to Afghanistan.
[
17
]
In June 2014, Doval facilitated the return of 46 Indian nurses who were trapped in a hospital in
Tikrit
, Iraq, following the
capture of Mosul
by
ISIL
. Doval, flew to Iraq on 25 June 2014 to understand the position on the ground and make high-level contacts in the
Iraqi government
.
[
66
]
Although the exact circumstances of their release are unclear, on 5 July 2014, ISIL militants handed the nurses to
Kurdish
authorities at
Erbil
city and an
Air India
plane specially-arranged by the Indian government brought them back home to
Kochi
.
[
67
]
Along with
Army Chief
General
Dalbir Singh Suhag
, Doval planned a
cross-border military operation
against
National Socialist Council of Nagaland
(NSCN-K) separatists operating out of
Myanmar
. Indian officials claimed that the mission was a success and 20–38 separatists belonging to
Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland
(NSCN-K) were killed in the operation.
[
68
]
[
69
]
[
70
]
[
71
]
However, the Myanmar government denied the strikes. According to Myanmar officials, the Indian operation against NSCN-K took place entirely on the Indian side of the border.
[
72
]
[
73
]
NSA Doval at the witnessing of the signing of the peace accord between Government of India and
National Socialist Council of Nagaland
Indian PM Modi with the NSA Doval, the Army Chief
Dalbir Singh Suhag
and the Air Force Chief
Arup Raha
at
Pathankot
Airbase
He is widely credited for the doctrinal shift in Indian national security policy in relation to Pakistan.
[
74
]
It was speculated that the September 2016
Indian strikes in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir
were his brainchild.
[
75
]
[
76
]
[
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]
[
78
]
[
79
]
Doval is widely credited along with then
Foreign Secretary
S. Jaishankar
and Indian Ambassador to China
Vijay Keshav Gokhale
, for resolving the
Doklam standoff
through diplomatic channels and negotiations.
[
80
]
[
81
]
[
82
]
As NSA, Doval is also the special representative responsible for the
Special Representative mechanism on the India–China boundary question
.
[
17
]
[
83
]
In October 2018, he was appointed as the Chairman of the
Strategic Policy Group
, which is the first tier of a three-tier structure at the
National Security Council
and forms the nucleus of its decision-making apparatus.
[
84
]
[
85
]
[
86
]
As NSA, Doval is
ex officio
agency executive of the National Security Council,
[
6
]
chairperson of the
Defence Planning Committee
,
[
87
]
and executive council head of the
Nuclear Command Authority
.
[
6
]
After a Pakistan-based militant
attacked a CRPF convoy with a car bomb
in
Pulwama
which resulted in the deaths of 40 CRPF personnel, the
Indian Air Force
conducted an airstrike on terrorist bases in Pakistan
[
88
]
Doval was one of the seven persons who knew about India's classified
2019 Balakot airstrike
, including Indian Navy, Army, Air Force chiefs and prime minister
Narendra Modi
. Following the airstrike and retaliatory
2019 Jammu and Kashmir airstrikes
and subsequent capture of Indian pilot
Abhinandan Varthaman
by Pakistani military, Ajit Doval held talks with
US Secretary of State
and
National Security Advisor
to secure the release of the Indian pilot.
[
89
]
[
90
]
NSA Doval meeting the Afghan NSA
Haneef Atmar
Second term
On 3 June 2019, he was reappointed as NSA for another 5 years and granted the personal rank of a
Cabinet Minister
.
[
91
]
Doval is the first NSA to hold such a rank.
[
27
]
He was previously a Minister of State.
[
91
]
Doval is widely considered to be one of Modi's most powerful and trusted advisors, with major influence over India's national security and foreign affairs.
[
92
]
He would go onto become India's longest serving NSA.
[
93
]
NSA Doval, along with Army, Navy, and Air Force Chief meeting PM
Modi
He was also an instrumental figure in
revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir
.
[
94
]
On 26 February 2020, Ajit Doval walked the streets of
riot-hit northeast Delhi
to assess the situation and reassure the local residents.
[
95
]
Following the
2020–2021 China–India skirmishes
four interactions took place between Doval and his Chinese counterpart,
Wang Yi
.
[
96
]
On 15 May 2020, the
military forces of Myanmar
handed over a group of 22 militant leaders, active in
Assam
and other
northeast states
, to the Indian government. This was made possible through negotiations headed by Doval.
[
97
]
[
98
]
On 15 September 2020, Doval walked out of a virtual
SCO
meeting after Pakistan projected a fictitious map omitting parts of India.
[
99
]
Third term
Vladimir Putin received NSA Doval in Constantine Palace in 2024
On 13 June 2024, Ajit Doval was granted third five-year extension for his tenure as National Security Advisor of India.
[
100
]
In the
2025 India–Pakistan conflict
following the Pahalgam terror attack, NSA Ajit Doval played a key role in formulating India's strategic response. He coordinated Operation Sindoor, a series of precision airstrikes on terrorist camps located in Pakistan. Indian officials described the operation as "measured and non-escalatory," aimed at neutralizing terrorist threats without provoking a broader conflict.
[
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]
[
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]
[
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]
[
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]
[
105
]
In January 2026, Doval addressed the "Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue," where he called on the youth to "avenge our history" through proactive national reconstruction.
[
106
]
This address was noted for its departure from traditional scholarly focus on historical loot, framing nation building instead as a form of civilizational resurgence.
[
107
]
Views and security positions
Doval in 2023
A. G. Noorani
and
A. S. Dulat
have, among others, called Doval a "hawk" or "hawkish";
[
21
]
[
108
]
[
109
]
[
110
]
[
53
]
further a "cautious hawk",
[
64
]
a Pakistan hawk,
[
111
]
[
112
]
and a China hawk.
[
113
]
Fourth-generation warfare
NSA Doval presenting awards to IPS probationers at their investiture ceremony, at the
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy
Doval, speaking at the
passing out
of the 2014 batch of IPS officers, said "You are now in the phase of
fourth generation war
... It is a warfare with an invisible enemy... it's a warfare, in which the civil society is both the battleground and... the people that you have to protect."
[
114
]
He states this is not a war of armies but a war of policemen.
[
114
]
In the passing out parade of the 2021 batch of IPS probationers he reiterated the dangers that
civil society
present over the problems of
conventional war
.
[
115
]
Critics argue that Doval's conceptualisation of fourth-generation warfare has "dangerous implications" and that Doval does not define what he means by "civil society".
[
116
]
[
117
]
According to
Aruna Roy
, Doval was ignoring his obligations to the spirit of the constitution and to his office in his speech to the probationers.
[
118
]
At the 6th Pune Dialogue on National Security in 2021 Doval explained how this form of warfare targets people rather than territory and territorial frontiers, that is, it targets civil society and through them cumulatively the will of a nation.
[
119
]
National security
According to Doval, the greatest threat to a nations' security is not external aggression but internal security.
[
114
]
Doval has stated "India's internal vulnerabilities are much higher than its external vulnerabilities".
[
64
]
His writings regularly tilt towards the importance of national issues as compared to external ones.
[
64
]
In 2006 and 2011 respectively, Doval called infiltration of Bangladeshis and
left wing extremism
as the biggest internal security problems.
[
64
]
[
120
]
[
121
]
In 2025 Doval stated that "left-wing extremism has reduced to less than 11 per cent areas than what existed in 2014".
[
122
]
Borders
In 2024, during the 21st
Border Security Force
investiture ceremony and
Rustamji
memorial lecture, Doval said that India's economic progress and internal security has been hampered by undefined
borders
in the north and west, and that even in the future India's borders will not be as secure as needed when taken in accordance with the country's economic growth.
[
123
]
[
124
]
Bio-security
In the backdrop of the
COVID-19 pandemic
in India
Doval highlighted the importance of anticipating biological threats, since scientific research can be misused for harmful purposes.
[
125
]
Governance
At the annual
Sardar Patel
memorial lecture in 2018 titled 'Dream India: 2030, avoiding the pitfalls' Doval stated that for the next ten years India needed a strong government with a "total mandate" which could take hard decisions which may not be populist.
[
126
]
At the Sardar Patel memorial lecture on governance in 2025 Doval shared a "security man’s perspective" on the importance governance has on securing a nation. He said that weak governance has led to
regime changes
in India's neghbourhood in countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
[
127
]
[
128
]
Nuclear deterrence
Speaking at a
Munich Security Conference
meeting in Delhi in October 2014, he stated that India has shifted its nuclear stance "from
credible minimum deterrence
to credible deterrence".
[
129
]
[
130
]
Pakistan
During the tenth
Nani Palkhivala
memorial lecture in February 2014, when talking about how to tackle Pakistan, he stated three postures- defensive, defensive-offence, and offensive. Doval said that India had so far been defensive and that it was time to turn to a defensive-offensive stance,
[
21
]
[
131
]
that is, "to defend ourselves, we go to the place from where the offence is coming".
[
132
]
He rules out an offensive strategy as that could lead to the nuclear threshold being crossed.
[
21
]
[
131
]
[
133
]
During the lecture he stated that if another attack like
Mumbai 26/11
happened, Pakistan may be split.
[
134
]
[
131
]
This three level engagement has come to be known as the 'Doval Doctrine'.
[
135
]
The
2016 Indian Line of Control strike
has been called "a perfect example of defensive offense".
[
136
]
The
2019 Balakot airstrike
, in response to the
2019 Pulwama attack
, has also been equated to the doctrine.
[
137
]
It has also been compared to the slogan "
ghar mein ghus kar marenge
" (
transl.
we will enter your house and hit you
).
[
138
]
The doctrine could also be felt at the 21st Lalit Doshi memorial lecture in August 2015 where, during the interactive session, Doval responded to a question saying "India has a mind-set where it punches below its weight. We have to punch not above our weight, we have to punch not below our weight, we have to increase our weight and punch proportionately".
[
108
]
[
139
]
He added that if you have power but do not yield it, then that is as good as not having that power.
[
108
]
Doval has mentioned the concept of "offensive defence", in relation to Pakistan, as early as 2006 during an interview; the interview was days after the
2006 Mumbai train bombings
.
[
140
]
'Defensive offence' and 'offensive defence' are similar however in the case of the latter, an offensive stance is taken preemptively with a defense purpose.
[
137
]
A. G. Noorani
has written that the "three themes of the Doval doctrine are irrelevance of morality, extremism freed from calculation or calibration, and reliance on military might".
[
108
]
Harsh Mander
has labelled these themes as 'amorality', 'offence' and 'militarism'.
[
132
]
When there is a question regarding the morality between an individual and the state, the state comes first. When there is a question between defence and offense, offense should be prioritised. And third,
militarism
,
might is right
,
force by any means where the only objective is to win.
[
132
]
Terrorism
At the Sardar Patel memorial lecture on governance on 31 October 2025 Doval stated that "terrorism in this country has been effectively countered"; he went on to explain that Jammu and Kashmir is a theatre for a proxy war or covert warfare.
[
141
]
Doval stated in 2019 that the media is an important component in the terrorism ecosystem.
[
142
]
In 2023, speaking at an event in New Delhi, in the presence of
Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa
, Doval stated that "terrorism is not linked to any religion".
[
143
]
Awards and recognitions
He has been awarded
honorary doctorates
from
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University
(formerly Agra University) in December 2017;
[
144
]
Kumaun University
in May 2018;
[
145
]
Amity University
in November 2018;
[
146
]
HNBGU University
in December 2019;
[
147
]
GB Pant Agriculture and Technical University
in February 2023;
[
148
]
and
Central University of Punjab
in March 2024.
[
149
]
Doval was the youngest police officer to receive the
Police Medal
for meritorious service.
[
22
]
He was given the award by
Indira Gandhi
in 1974 after six years in the police force.
[
6
]
[
22
]
[
150
]
Doval was later awarded the
President's Police Medal
for distinguished service.
[
9
]
[
151
]
[
when?
]
In 1989, Doval was granted one of the highest gallantry awards, the
Kirti Chakra
, becoming the first police officer to receive a medal previously given only as a military honour.
[
152
]
He received the award for his role in
Operation Black Thunder II
.
[
33
]
[
23
]
His official citation reads,
[
3
]
"Shri Ajit Kumar Doval was given several sensitive assignments directed against certain hard core terrorists. These assignments required a high degree of courage and dedication. It also put his personal security in peril. Regardless of the risk to his personal safety, Shri Doval prepared and executed plans against terrorists with a high degree of success bringing glory to his organization. During these assignments, there were long periods during which his whereabouts were not known which even caused concern that he has been caught and possibly tortured.
In one such assignment, he was required to deal with a group of terrorists, some of whom were considered notorious and dangerous. Dealing with them posed a grave danger to his own life. Ignoring the risk involved to his personal security, Shri Doval prepared and executed a plan for enticing the terrorists and succeeded in trapping some of the wanted notorious terrorists. In carrying out these assignments, Shri Ajit Kumar Doval has not only exhibited remarkable resourcefulness and devotion to duty, but he has carried out his task with a single-mindedness of purpose and shown exemplary courage even risking his life on several occasions."
In 2022 he was awarded the
Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman
.
[
153
]
In popular culture
Doval appeared on
Epic TV's
show
Adrishya
,
in which his success against
Khalistani separatist
during
Operation Black Thunder
was featured.
[
154
]
In the film
Uri: The Surgical Strike
(2019), his cinematic character was portrayed by
Paresh Rawal
.
[
155
]
In the film
Dhurandhar
(2025) and its sequel
Dhurandhar: The Revenge
(2026), the character "Ajay Sanyal" portrayed by
R. Madhavan
is heavily inspired by Doval.
[
156
]
[
157
]
In 2025 web series
Salakaar
for
JioHotstar
based on his covert operation in
Pakistan
in 1970s, his role was played by
Naveen Kasturia
(as his younger self) and Purnendu Bhattacharya (as his present self) alias as Adhir Dayal.
Selected bibliography
Doval, Ajit (14 April 2006).
"Red star over India"
.
The Indian Express
.
Doval, Ajit (1 June 2006).
"Ways to defeat ourselves"
.
The Indian Express
.
Doval, Ajit (19 September 2006).
"A strategic setback for India"
.
The Indian Express
.
Doval, Ajit (2007).
"Islamic Terrorism in South Asia and India's Strategic Response"
.
Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice
.
1
(1):
63–
69.
Doval, Ajit (29 August 2007).
"If Sharif Comes Back"
.
The Times of India
.
Doval, Ajit (30 August 2007).
"Needed: war on error"
.
The Indian Express
– via
VIF
.
Doval, Ajit (16 November 2007).
"Djinn is out of Pak bottle"
.
The Indian Express
. Archived from
the original
on 25 January 2025.
Doval, Ajit (23 December 2007).
"Growth of Maoists fuelled by politicians"
.
Mail Today
– via
VIF
.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (
link
)
Doval, Ajit (26 May 2008).
"Two Clever Tips To Surprise Him"
.
Outlook
. Archived from
the original
on 27 January 2011.
Doval, Ajit (6 December 2008).
"The elusive national counter-terrorism policy"
.
Pragati
. Archived from
the original
on 2 October 2011.
Doval, Ajit (25 August 2009).
"Bleeding From Within"
.
The New Indian Express
– via
VIF
.
Doval, Ajit (1 September 2009).
"Abject surrender at Sharm-el-Sheikh"
.
The New Indian Express
. Archived from
the original
on 28 May 2012.
Doval, Ajit (21 November 2009).
"Terrorist threat and response capability – India a year after"
.
Deccan Herald
.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (
link
)
Doval, Ajit (10 April 2010).
"Naxalism: Need to revisit basics"
.
The Economic Times
.
Doval, Ajit (June 2010).
"India's Strategic Criticality: Need for an Effective National Response"
.
Eternal India
. Archived from
the original
on 28 June 2010 – via
VIF
.
Doval, Ajit (4 August 2010).
"Complicated encounters"
.
The Indian Express
.
Doval, Ajit (8 August 2010).
"This new offensive needs new response"
.
The Times of India
.
Doval, Ajit (31 January 2011).
"China Factor in North East Insurgency – Alarming Signals"
.
Vivekananda International Foundation
.
Doval, Ajit (3 February 2011).
"Internal Security – Need for Course Correction"
.
Vivekananda International Foundation
.
Doval, Ajit (12 February 2012).
"Working in real time"
.
Hindustan Times
. Archived from
the original
on 28 May 2014.
Doval, Ajit (6 June 2013).
"Maoist War Against India: Time for United & Strong Response"
.
Vivekananda International Foundation
.
Doval, Ajit (July 2013),
Chinese Intelligence : From a Party Outfit to Cyber Warriors
(PDF)
,
Vivekananda International Foundation
Doval, Ajit (2 September 2013).
"Moderate and Balanced Afghanistan: Imperative for Regional Security"
.
Vivekananda International Foundation
.
Interviews
Doval, Ajit (24 April 2006).
"
'Why do you say Maoists are not terrorists?'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by Sheela Bhatt.
Rediff
.
Doval, Ajit (26 April 2006).
"
'Bangladeshi infiltration is the biggest threat'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by Sheela Bhatt.
Rediff
.
Doval, Ajit (22 July 2006).
"
'We Need To Shift To Offensive Defence'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by
Outlook
.
Doval, Ajit (6 August 2006).
"Pak must destroy terror infrastructure: Doval"
(Interview). Interviewed by Rajeev Sharma.
The Tribune
.
Doval, Ajit (30 December 2007).
"It's a civil war situation in Pakistan: Doval"
(Interview). Interviewed by Rajeev Sharma.
The Tribune
.
Doval, Ajit.
"IBN Live Interview"
(Interview). Interviewed by Multiple. Archived from
the original
on 13 July 2011.
Doval, Ajit (27 September 2008).
"
'Move to the offensive mode'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by Harinder Baweja.
Tehelka
. Archived from
the original
on 1 December 2008.
Doval, Ajit (20 December 2008).
"
'We need a US-model security info network'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by The New Indian Express. Archived from
the original
on 28 May 2012.
Doval, Ajit (23 October 2009).
"
'Time to stay a step ahead of terrorists'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by Vicky Nanjappa.
Rediff
.
See also
India portal
Ravindra Kaushik
– spy of India.
Bahirji Naik
– spy of
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
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.
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.
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'Bangladeshi infiltration is the biggest threat'
"
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'Regime changes in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal building cases of bad governance': Ajit Doval"
.
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'Regime Changes In Neighbouring Countries A Result Of Bad Governance': NSA Ajit Doval"
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ASIN
B0BPJV4XP6
.
ISBN
978-9356295971
.
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'We Need To Shift To Offensive Defence'
"
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"
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Further reading
Doval doctrine
Pathak, Ojaswa.
"The Doval Doctrine: Analysing the Legality of India's Policy of Cross Border Counterterror Operations"
.
NLIU Law Review
.
X
(2):
195–
227.
Patel, Aakar
(13 May 2025).
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.
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Hussain, Naveed (6 July 2025).
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.
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.
Gupta, Manoj (8 July 2025). Ratti, Pragati (ed.).
"
'No Proof, No Credibility': Indian Intelligence Sources Dismiss Pakistan's 'Doval Doctrine' Claims"
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News18
.
Shah, Amita (17 August 2017).
"The Doval Doctrine: Never Say Never Again"
.
Open Magazine
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Khare, Harish (17 July 2015).
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.
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.
Malik, Tassawar Aziz; Qayyum, Sehrish (2022).
"Indian Political Doctrines"
(PDF)
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(1):
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33.
Aaron, Sushil (16 September 2016).
"Narendra Modi is implementing the Doval doctrine in Kashmir"
.
Hindustan Times
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Sharma, Srijan; Gupta, Prakrat (19 December 2023),
India's National Security Evolution: Urgent Need for Comprehensive Strategy
, Fair Observer
"Watch Ajit Doval say if Pakistan does 'one Mumbai' it may lose Balochistan"
.
Scroll.in
. 6 January 2016.
External links
VIF articles by Ajit Doval
Media related to
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at Wikimedia Commons
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Ajit Doval
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
5th National Security Advisor of India (born 1945)
Ajit Kumar Doval
IPS
KC
Doval in 2015
5th
National Security Advisor of India
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 May 2014
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
Preceded by
Shivshankar Menon
Director of the Intelligence Bureau
In office
31 July 2004 – 31 January 2005
Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh
Preceded by
K. P. Singh
Succeeded by
E. S. L. Narasimhan
Personal details
Born
(
1945-01-20
)
20 January 1945
(age 81)
Ghiri Banelsyun
,
United Provinces
,
British Raj
(present-day
Uttarakhand
, India)
Spouse
Aruni Doval
(
m.
1972)
Children
2
Alma mater
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University
(
MA
)
National Defence College
(
M.Phil.
)
Occupation
Spymaster
Profession
Bureaucrat
Awards
Kirti Chakra
Police Medal
President's Police Medal
Ajit Kumar Doval
(born 20 January 1945) is an Indian
bureaucrat
,
spymaster
and retired police and intelligence officer who has been serving as the longest tenured
National Security Advisor of India
(NSA) since 2014. Doval is serving his third consecutive five-year term as NSA. During his second tenure he was given Cabinet rank. Doval previously held the position of
Director
of the
Intelligence Bureau
from 2004 to 2005, after leading its operations wing for over a decade. He worked as a career intelligence officer for over 33 years. He is recognized for his contributions to counter-terrorism and covert missions.
Born in
Pauri Garhwal
in present-day
Uttarakhand
, Doval completed his education from
Ajmer Military School
,
Agra University
, and the
National Defence College
. After clearing his
Union Public Service Commission
(UPSC) examination in 1968 he joined the
Indian Police Service
as a Kerala cadre officer. In 1972 he joined the
Intelligence Bureau
. His field assignments have spanned Mizoram, Sikkim, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. He has held diplomatic assignments at the
Indian High Commission in Islamabad
and
London
. He received the
Kirti Chakra
gallantry award in 1989, becoming the first police officer to receive the second-highest peacetime military honour. Doval was also involved in multiple negotiations of hijacked
Indian Airlines
aircraft. At headquarters he was founder chairman of the
Multi Agency Centre
and the Joint Task Force on Intelligence.
He retired as
chief
of the Intelligence Bureau in January 2005. In retirement he gave lectures, interviews and wrote
op-eds
. Around 2008, he helped set up the
Rashtriya Raksha University
. In 2009, he became founder director of the
Vivekananda International Foundation
, a public policy think tank based in New Delhi, and served as its director until his appointment as NSA. Major military operations during Doval's tenure include
Operation Hot Pursuit
, the
Balakot airstrike
and
Operation Sindoor
. The
Doklam standoff
was eventually resolved through diplomatic channels and negotiations.
Early life, education and personal life
Doval was born in 1945 in Ghiri Banelsyun village in
Pauri Garhwal
in
United Provinces
(now in
Uttarakhand
) in the erstwhile British Raj (currently
India
).
[
1
]
[
2
]
He is the son of GN Doval and Indra Doval.
[
3
]
Doval's father,
Major
Gunanand Doval, was an officer in the Indian Army.
[
4
]
[
5
]
He served in the
Bengal Sappers
for 36 years.
[
4
]
Doval received his early education at the
Ajmer Military School
in
Ajmer
, Rajasthan.
[
6
]
He graduated with a bachelor's and master's degree in
economics
from
Agra University
in 1967.
[
7
]
[
8
]
During his master's he secured first position.
[
9
]
[
10
]
The following year Doval cleared the
Union Public Service Commission
(UPSC) examination.
[
11
]
He went on to graduate from the 30th course of the
National Defence College
, New Delhi, in 1990.
[
9
]
[
12
]
He married Aruni Doval in 1972 and has two children
Shaurya
and Vivek Doval.
[
8
]
During a lecture in 2015, Doval said that he comes from a vegetarian family however his work led him to eat non-vegetarian food as well.
[
13
]
During a dialogue in January 2026 Doval was asked a question about how he uses communication tools, he elaborated that he largely does not use the internet for work, and the phone only for family and when speaking to people abroad. He stated that there were also other methods of communication not used by the general public.
[
14
]
[
15
]
He does not have a social media account.
[
16
]
He is fluent in Urdu.
[
17
]
Police and intelligence career (1968–2005)
Doval joined the
Indian Police Service
(IPS) in 1968 in the
Kerala
cadre as the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of
Kottayam
district in Kerala.
[
18
]
[
19
]
In 1972, he was transferred to riot hit
Thalassery
, Kerala.
[
20
]
He was there for a few months between January and June 1972.
[
20
]
In the same year he went on to join the central service, the
Intelligence Bureau
(IB).
[
6
]
His government job in the IB largely saw him as a "typical undercover agent".
[
21
]
One of Doval's first assignments in the IB was to tackle the insurgency in
northeast India
, specifically in
Mizoram
.
[
6
]
Between 1972 and 1977 he officially led the IBs Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau in
Aizawl
.
[
6
]
Doval spent these five years mostly undercover.
[
21
]
During this period he was awarded the
Police Medal
for meritorious service in 1974.
[
22
]
Doval had a role in laying the groundwork for negotiation, the 1976 agreement,
[
6
]
and eventually the
Mizoram Peace Accord
of 1986.
[
11
]
[
21
]
[
23
]
He was the man behind turning six of seven of
Laldenga
's commanders.
[
21
]
He had a role in
Sikkim's merger
with India in 1975 encompassing political engineering, liaisoning and facilitation.
[
11
]
[
24
]
He was head of the IBs Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau in Sikkim.
[
6
]
Doval was in Pakistan for seven years.
[
6
]
[
25
]
He worked at the
Indian High Commission in Islamabad
from 1983 to 1987.
[
26
]
Officially he was head of the commercial section.
[
27
]
His undercover roles in Pakistan would allow him to visit mosques for prayers and make friends through which he could gather relevant information.
[
28
]
To fit the role, he had to get plastic surgery done on his pierced ears.
[
28
]
[
29
]
Working undercover in Pakistan as a beggar, he collected hair from scientists from a barber shop; this hair tested positive for signs of uranium, helping to expose Pakistan's nuclear programme.
[
30
]
[
31
]
He also kept a watch over Sikh pilgrims and the separatist propaganda they faced.
[
27
]
In 1988 during
Operation Black Thunder
he infiltrated the
Golden temple
posing as a Pakistani agent disguised as a rickshaw puller, spied on
Khalistani separatists
, and gathered information.
[
17
]
[
32
]
[
33
]
He would go on to receive the
Kirti Chakra
for his role in the operation.
[
33
]
[
34
]
At the time Doval was a joint director in the IB.
[
32
]
Insurgency in Punjab
would keep him occupied for nearly a decade.
[
27
]
In 1991 he headed the operation as a joint director to rescue a captured Romanian diplomat from four Sikh militant groups including
Bhindranwale Tiger Force
.
[
35
]
[
36
]
In the 1990s he turned militant
Kuka Parray
.
[
37
]
[
38
]
He also helped bring other Kashmiri separatists to the negotiating table.
[
39
]
Between 1992 and 1996 he was posted at
India House, London
.
[
6
]
He has the experience of being involved in the termination of all 15 hijackings of
Indian Airlines
aircraft from 1971 to 1999,
[
40
]
[
28
]
[
39
]
[
page needed
]
a notable instance was the 1999
hijacked aeroplane IC-814
.
[
41
]
[
22
]
[
42
]
Doval would go on to say the negotiation was a diplomatic failure.
[
43
]
This was the first time Doval would come under the gaze of the media.
[
6
]
[
22
]
He was trained under
M. K. Narayanan
, the third National Security Advisor of India for a brief period in counterterrorism operations.
[
44
]
[
27
]
[
39
]
In the headquarters, he headed IB's operations wing for over a decade and was founder Chairman of the
Multi Agency Centre
(MAC), as well as of the Joint Task Force on Intelligence (JTFI).
[
33
]
[
36
]
[
39
]
[
1
]
He was appointed
Director
of IB in July 2004 and held the post until his retirement in January 2005.
[
22
]
[
45
]
[
46
]
Doval's career as an intelligence officer spanned over 33 years.
[
47
]
In 2004 Doval was made president of the
International Association of Chiefs of Police
for Asia and Pacific region.
[
9
]
[
48
]
Post-retirement (2005–2014)
Doval retired in January 2005 as Director,
Intelligence Bureau
.
[
46
]
He continued working unofficially.
[
37
]
In July 2005, Doval was briefly detained by Mumbai Police alongside Vicky Malhotra and Farid Tanasha, two members of
Chhota Rajan
's gang. Doval had been working on a secret plan to kill
Dawood Ibrahim
in Dubai where he was attending his daughter's wedding. Mumbai Police were unaware of Doval's involvement of the plot as they had gone in to arrest the two gangsters.
[
49
]
[
50
]
Doval remained actively involved in the discourse on national security in India. Besides writing editorial pieces for several leading newspapers and journals, he delivered lectures on India's security challenges and foreign policy objectives at several renowned government and non-governmental institutions, security think-tanks in India and abroad.
[
6
]
[
51
]
[
52
]
[
53
]
[
citation needed
]
Around 2008, Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, brought in Doval to set up a university, the
Rashtriya Raksha University
.
[
6
]
[
54
]
In January 2009, he was chosen by the
Government of Karnataka
as its security advisor.
[
55
]
In December 2009, he became the founding Director of the
Vivekananda International Foundation
(VIF), a public policy think tank set up by the
Vivekananda Kendra
.
[
56
]
[
57
]
In 2009 and 2012 he co-wrote two reports on "Indian Black Money Abroad in Secret Banks and Tax Havens" as a part of a task force constituted by
Bharatiya Janata Party
.
[
58
]
[
59
]
In 2012, IB kept eyes on him due to then ruling party Congress's suspicions that Doval and VIF were the brains behind
Ramdev
and
Anna Hazare
led anti-corruption movement, which generated anger against the government.
[
60
]
As director VIF, he has delivered guest lectures at
National Defence College
,
Centre for Land Warfare Studies
,
Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis
,
Bureau of Police Research and Development
,
Lal Bahadur Shashtri National Academy of Administration
,
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry
,
Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini
,
IIT Delhi
,
Jamia Milia Islamia University
,
Osmania University
,
Maharaja Agrasen College
,
Kanpur University
, and
Shri Ram College of Commerce
among others. Lectures at foreign locations include
International Institute of Strategic Studies
,
International Security Forum
,
American Foreign Policy Council
,
Capitol Hill
, Keizai Koho Centre, and
Project Interchange
.
[
61
]
[
62
]
[
63
]
Doval has written on Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China, however comparatively very little on other countries.
[
64
]
On being named the NSA, he stepped down from his post as director of VIF in 2014.
[
21
]
National Security Advisor (2014–present)
NSA Doval meets with
US secretary of state
John Kerry
in
Washington DC
First term
On 30 May 2014, Doval was appointed as India's fifth
National Security Advisor
(NSA).
[
65
]
Doval will hold the post as long as Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister, or until further orders.
[
51
]
He was appointed as the Prime Minister's special envoy to Afghanistan.
[
17
]
In June 2014, Doval facilitated the return of 46 Indian nurses who were trapped in a hospital in
Tikrit
, Iraq, following the
capture of Mosul
by
ISIL
. Doval, flew to Iraq on 25 June 2014 to understand the position on the ground and make high-level contacts in the
Iraqi government
.
[
66
]
Although the exact circumstances of their release are unclear, on 5 July 2014, ISIL militants handed the nurses to
Kurdish
authorities at
Erbil
city and an
Air India
plane specially-arranged by the Indian government brought them back home to
Kochi
.
[
67
]
Along with
Army Chief
General
Dalbir Singh Suhag
, Doval planned a
cross-border military operation
against
National Socialist Council of Nagaland
(NSCN-K) separatists operating out of
Myanmar
. Indian officials claimed that the mission was a success and 20–38 separatists belonging to
Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland
(NSCN-K) were killed in the operation.
[
68
]
[
69
]
[
70
]
[
71
]
However, the Myanmar government denied the strikes. According to Myanmar officials, the Indian operation against NSCN-K took place entirely on the Indian side of the border.
[
72
]
[
73
]
NSA Doval at the witnessing of the signing of the peace accord between Government of India and
National Socialist Council of Nagaland
Indian PM Modi with the NSA Doval, the Army Chief
Dalbir Singh Suhag
and the Air Force Chief
Arup Raha
at
Pathankot
Airbase
He is widely credited for the doctrinal shift in Indian national security policy in relation to Pakistan.
[
74
]
It was speculated that the September 2016
Indian strikes in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir
were his brainchild.
[
75
]
[
76
]
[
77
]
[
78
]
[
79
]
Doval is widely credited along with then
Foreign Secretary
S. Jaishankar
and Indian Ambassador to China
Vijay Keshav Gokhale
, for resolving the
Doklam standoff
through diplomatic channels and negotiations.
[
80
]
[
81
]
[
82
]
As NSA, Doval is also the special representative responsible for the
Special Representative mechanism on the India–China boundary question
.
[
17
]
[
83
]
In October 2018, he was appointed as the Chairman of the
Strategic Policy Group
, which is the first tier of a three-tier structure at the
National Security Council
and forms the nucleus of its decision-making apparatus.
[
84
]
[
85
]
[
86
]
As NSA, Doval is
ex officio
agency executive of the National Security Council,
[
6
]
chairperson of the
Defence Planning Committee
,
[
87
]
and executive council head of the
Nuclear Command Authority
.
[
6
]
After a Pakistan-based militant
attacked a CRPF convoy with a car bomb
in
Pulwama
which resulted in the deaths of 40 CRPF personnel, the
Indian Air Force
conducted an airstrike on terrorist bases in Pakistan
[
88
]
Doval was one of the seven persons who knew about India's classified
2019 Balakot airstrike
, including Indian Navy, Army, Air Force chiefs and prime minister
Narendra Modi
. Following the airstrike and retaliatory
2019 Jammu and Kashmir airstrikes
and subsequent capture of Indian pilot
Abhinandan Varthaman
by Pakistani military, Ajit Doval held talks with
US Secretary of State
and
National Security Advisor
to secure the release of the Indian pilot.
[
89
]
[
90
]
NSA Doval meeting the Afghan NSA
Haneef Atmar
Second term
On 3 June 2019, he was reappointed as NSA for another 5 years and granted the personal rank of a
Cabinet Minister
.
[
91
]
Doval is the first NSA to hold such a rank.
[
27
]
He was previously a Minister of State.
[
91
]
Doval is widely considered to be one of Modi's most powerful and trusted advisors, with major influence over India's national security and foreign affairs.
[
92
]
He would go onto become India's longest serving NSA.
[
93
]
NSA Doval, along with Army, Navy, and Air Force Chief meeting PM
Modi
He was also an instrumental figure in
revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir
.
[
94
]
On 26 February 2020, Ajit Doval walked the streets of
riot-hit northeast Delhi
to assess the situation and reassure the local residents.
[
95
]
Following the
2020–2021 China–India skirmishes
four interactions took place between Doval and his Chinese counterpart,
Wang Yi
.
[
96
]
On 15 May 2020, the
military forces of Myanmar
handed over a group of 22 militant leaders, active in
Assam
and other
northeast states
, to the Indian government. This was made possible through negotiations headed by Doval.
[
97
]
[
98
]
On 15 September 2020, Doval walked out of a virtual
SCO
meeting after Pakistan projected a fictitious map omitting parts of India.
[
99
]
Third term
Vladimir Putin received NSA Doval in Constantine Palace in 2024
On 13 June 2024, Ajit Doval was granted third five-year extension for his tenure as National Security Advisor of India.
[
100
]
In the
2025 India–Pakistan conflict
following the Pahalgam terror attack, NSA Ajit Doval played a key role in formulating India's strategic response. He coordinated Operation Sindoor, a series of precision airstrikes on terrorist camps located in Pakistan. Indian officials described the operation as "measured and non-escalatory," aimed at neutralizing terrorist threats without provoking a broader conflict.
[
101
]
[
102
]
[
103
]
[
104
]
[
105
]
In January 2026, Doval addressed the "Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue," where he called on the youth to "avenge our history" through proactive national reconstruction.
[
106
]
This address was noted for its departure from traditional scholarly focus on historical loot, framing nation building instead as a form of civilizational resurgence.
[
107
]
Views and security positions
Doval in 2023
A. G. Noorani
and
A. S. Dulat
have, among others, called Doval a "hawk" or "hawkish";
[
21
]
[
108
]
[
109
]
[
110
]
[
53
]
further a "cautious hawk",
[
64
]
a Pakistan hawk,
[
111
]
[
112
]
and a China hawk.
[
113
]
Fourth-generation warfare
NSA Doval presenting awards to IPS probationers at their investiture ceremony, at the
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy
Doval, speaking at the
passing out
of the 2014 batch of IPS officers, said "You are now in the phase of
fourth generation war
... It is a warfare with an invisible enemy... it's a warfare, in which the civil society is both the battleground and... the people that you have to protect."
[
114
]
He states this is not a war of armies but a war of policemen.
[
114
]
In the passing out parade of the 2021 batch of IPS probationers he reiterated the dangers that
civil society
present over the problems of
conventional war
.
[
115
]
Critics argue that Doval's conceptualisation of fourth-generation warfare has "dangerous implications" and that Doval does not define what he means by "civil society".
[
116
]
[
117
]
According to
Aruna Roy
, Doval was ignoring his obligations to the spirit of the constitution and to his office in his speech to the probationers.
[
118
]
At the 6th Pune Dialogue on National Security in 2021 Doval explained how this form of warfare targets people rather than territory and territorial frontiers, that is, it targets civil society and through them cumulatively the will of a nation.
[
119
]
National security
According to Doval, the greatest threat to a nations' security is not external aggression but internal security.
[
114
]
Doval has stated "India's internal vulnerabilities are much higher than its external vulnerabilities".
[
64
]
His writings regularly tilt towards the importance of national issues as compared to external ones.
[
64
]
In 2006 and 2011 respectively, Doval called infiltration of Bangladeshis and
left wing extremism
as the biggest internal security problems.
[
64
]
[
120
]
[
121
]
In 2025 Doval stated that "left-wing extremism has reduced to less than 11 per cent areas than what existed in 2014".
[
122
]
Borders
In 2024, during the 21st
Border Security Force
investiture ceremony and
Rustamji
memorial lecture, Doval said that India's economic progress and internal security has been hampered by undefined
borders
in the north and west, and that even in the future India's borders will not be as secure as needed when taken in accordance with the country's economic growth.
[
123
]
[
124
]
Bio-security
In the backdrop of the
COVID-19 pandemic
in India
Doval highlighted the importance of anticipating biological threats, since scientific research can be misused for harmful purposes.
[
125
]
Governance
At the annual
Sardar Patel
memorial lecture in 2018 titled 'Dream India: 2030, avoiding the pitfalls' Doval stated that for the next ten years India needed a strong government with a "total mandate" which could take hard decisions which may not be populist.
[
126
]
At the Sardar Patel memorial lecture on governance in 2025 Doval shared a "security man’s perspective" on the importance governance has on securing a nation. He said that weak governance has led to
regime changes
in India's neghbourhood in countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
[
127
]
[
128
]
Nuclear deterrence
Speaking at a
Munich Security Conference
meeting in Delhi in October 2014, he stated that India has shifted its nuclear stance "from
credible minimum deterrence
to credible deterrence".
[
129
]
[
130
]
Pakistan
During the tenth
Nani Palkhivala
memorial lecture in February 2014, when talking about how to tackle Pakistan, he stated three postures- defensive, defensive-offence, and offensive. Doval said that India had so far been defensive and that it was time to turn to a defensive-offensive stance,
[
21
]
[
131
]
that is, "to defend ourselves, we go to the place from where the offence is coming".
[
132
]
He rules out an offensive strategy as that could lead to the nuclear threshold being crossed.
[
21
]
[
131
]
[
133
]
During the lecture he stated that if another attack like
Mumbai 26/11
happened, Pakistan may be split.
[
134
]
[
131
]
This three level engagement has come to be known as the 'Doval Doctrine'.
[
135
]
The
2016 Indian Line of Control strike
has been called "a perfect example of defensive offense".
[
136
]
The
2019 Balakot airstrike
, in response to the
2019 Pulwama attack
, has also been equated to the doctrine.
[
137
]
It has also been compared to the slogan "
ghar mein ghus kar marenge
" (
transl.
we will enter your house and hit you
).
[
138
]
The doctrine could also be felt at the 21st Lalit Doshi memorial lecture in August 2015 where, during the interactive session, Doval responded to a question saying "India has a mind-set where it punches below its weight. We have to punch not above our weight, we have to punch not below our weight, we have to increase our weight and punch proportionately".
[
108
]
[
139
]
He added that if you have power but do not yield it, then that is as good as not having that power.
[
108
]
Doval has mentioned the concept of "offensive defence", in relation to Pakistan, as early as 2006 during an interview; the interview was days after the
2006 Mumbai train bombings
.
[
140
]
'Defensive offence' and 'offensive defence' are similar however in the case of the latter, an offensive stance is taken preemptively with a defense purpose.
[
137
]
A. G. Noorani
has written that the "three themes of the Doval doctrine are irrelevance of morality, extremism freed from calculation or calibration, and reliance on military might".
[
108
]
Harsh Mander
has labelled these themes as 'amorality', 'offence' and 'militarism'.
[
132
]
When there is a question regarding the morality between an individual and the state, the state comes first. When there is a question between defence and offense, offense should be prioritised. And third,
militarism
,
might is right
,
force by any means where the only objective is to win.
[
132
]
Terrorism
At the Sardar Patel memorial lecture on governance on 31 October 2025 Doval stated that "terrorism in this country has been effectively countered"; he went on to explain that Jammu and Kashmir is a theatre for a proxy war or covert warfare.
[
141
]
Doval stated in 2019 that the media is an important component in the terrorism ecosystem.
[
142
]
In 2023, speaking at an event in New Delhi, in the presence of
Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa
, Doval stated that "terrorism is not linked to any religion".
[
143
]
Awards and recognitions
He has been awarded
honorary doctorates
from
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University
(formerly Agra University) in December 2017;
[
144
]
Kumaun University
in May 2018;
[
145
]
Amity University
in November 2018;
[
146
]
HNBGU University
in December 2019;
[
147
]
GB Pant Agriculture and Technical University
in February 2023;
[
148
]
and
Central University of Punjab
in March 2024.
[
149
]
Doval was the youngest police officer to receive the
Police Medal
for meritorious service.
[
22
]
He was given the award by
Indira Gandhi
in 1974 after six years in the police force.
[
6
]
[
22
]
[
150
]
Doval was later awarded the
President's Police Medal
for distinguished service.
[
9
]
[
151
]
[
when?
]
In 1989, Doval was granted one of the highest gallantry awards, the
Kirti Chakra
, becoming the first police officer to receive a medal previously given only as a military honour.
[
152
]
He received the award for his role in
Operation Black Thunder II
.
[
33
]
[
23
]
His official citation reads,
[
3
]
"Shri Ajit Kumar Doval was given several sensitive assignments directed against certain hard core terrorists. These assignments required a high degree of courage and dedication. It also put his personal security in peril. Regardless of the risk to his personal safety, Shri Doval prepared and executed plans against terrorists with a high degree of success bringing glory to his organization. During these assignments, there were long periods during which his whereabouts were not known which even caused concern that he has been caught and possibly tortured.
In one such assignment, he was required to deal with a group of terrorists, some of whom were considered notorious and dangerous. Dealing with them posed a grave danger to his own life. Ignoring the risk involved to his personal security, Shri Doval prepared and executed a plan for enticing the terrorists and succeeded in trapping some of the wanted notorious terrorists. In carrying out these assignments, Shri Ajit Kumar Doval has not only exhibited remarkable resourcefulness and devotion to duty, but he has carried out his task with a single-mindedness of purpose and shown exemplary courage even risking his life on several occasions."
In 2022 he was awarded the
Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman
.
[
153
]
In popular culture
Doval appeared on
Epic TV's
show
Adrishya
,
in which his success against
Khalistani separatist
during
Operation Black Thunder
was featured.
[
154
]
In the film
Uri: The Surgical Strike
(2019), his cinematic character was portrayed by
Paresh Rawal
.
[
155
]
In the film
Dhurandhar
(2025) and its sequel
Dhurandhar: The Revenge
(2026), the character "Ajay Sanyal" portrayed by
R. Madhavan
is heavily inspired by Doval.
[
156
]
[
157
]
In 2025 web series
Salakaar
for
JioHotstar
based on his covert operation in
Pakistan
in 1970s, his role was played by
Naveen Kasturia
(as his younger self) and Purnendu Bhattacharya (as his present self) alias as Adhir Dayal.
Selected bibliography
Doval, Ajit (14 April 2006).
"Red star over India"
.
The Indian Express
.
Doval, Ajit (1 June 2006).
"Ways to defeat ourselves"
.
The Indian Express
.
Doval, Ajit (19 September 2006).
"A strategic setback for India"
.
The Indian Express
.
Doval, Ajit (2007).
"Islamic Terrorism in South Asia and India's Strategic Response"
.
Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice
.
1
(1):
63–
69.
Doval, Ajit (29 August 2007).
"If Sharif Comes Back"
.
The Times of India
.
Doval, Ajit (30 August 2007).
"Needed: war on error"
.
The Indian Express
– via
VIF
.
Doval, Ajit (16 November 2007).
"Djinn is out of Pak bottle"
.
The Indian Express
. Archived from
the original
on 25 January 2025.
Doval, Ajit (23 December 2007).
"Growth of Maoists fuelled by politicians"
.
Mail Today
– via
VIF
.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (
link
)
Doval, Ajit (26 May 2008).
"Two Clever Tips To Surprise Him"
.
Outlook
. Archived from
the original
on 27 January 2011.
Doval, Ajit (6 December 2008).
"The elusive national counter-terrorism policy"
.
Pragati
. Archived from
the original
on 2 October 2011.
Doval, Ajit (25 August 2009).
"Bleeding From Within"
.
The New Indian Express
– via
VIF
.
Doval, Ajit (1 September 2009).
"Abject surrender at Sharm-el-Sheikh"
.
The New Indian Express
. Archived from
the original
on 28 May 2012.
Doval, Ajit (21 November 2009).
"Terrorist threat and response capability – India a year after"
.
Deccan Herald
.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (
link
)
Doval, Ajit (10 April 2010).
"Naxalism: Need to revisit basics"
.
The Economic Times
.
Doval, Ajit (June 2010).
"India's Strategic Criticality: Need for an Effective National Response"
.
Eternal India
. Archived from
the original
on 28 June 2010 – via
VIF
.
Doval, Ajit (4 August 2010).
"Complicated encounters"
.
The Indian Express
.
Doval, Ajit (8 August 2010).
"This new offensive needs new response"
.
The Times of India
.
Doval, Ajit (31 January 2011).
"China Factor in North East Insurgency – Alarming Signals"
.
Vivekananda International Foundation
.
Doval, Ajit (3 February 2011).
"Internal Security – Need for Course Correction"
.
Vivekananda International Foundation
.
Doval, Ajit (12 February 2012).
"Working in real time"
.
Hindustan Times
. Archived from
the original
on 28 May 2014.
Doval, Ajit (6 June 2013).
"Maoist War Against India: Time for United & Strong Response"
.
Vivekananda International Foundation
.
Doval, Ajit (July 2013),
Chinese Intelligence : From a Party Outfit to Cyber Warriors
(PDF)
,
Vivekananda International Foundation
Doval, Ajit (2 September 2013).
"Moderate and Balanced Afghanistan: Imperative for Regional Security"
.
Vivekananda International Foundation
.
Interviews
Doval, Ajit (24 April 2006).
"
'Why do you say Maoists are not terrorists?'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by Sheela Bhatt.
Rediff
.
Doval, Ajit (26 April 2006).
"
'Bangladeshi infiltration is the biggest threat'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by Sheela Bhatt.
Rediff
.
Doval, Ajit (22 July 2006).
"
'We Need To Shift To Offensive Defence'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by
Outlook
.
Doval, Ajit (6 August 2006).
"Pak must destroy terror infrastructure: Doval"
(Interview). Interviewed by Rajeev Sharma.
The Tribune
.
Doval, Ajit (30 December 2007).
"It's a civil war situation in Pakistan: Doval"
(Interview). Interviewed by Rajeev Sharma.
The Tribune
.
Doval, Ajit.
"IBN Live Interview"
(Interview). Interviewed by Multiple. Archived from
the original
on 13 July 2011.
Doval, Ajit (27 September 2008).
"
'Move to the offensive mode'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by Harinder Baweja.
Tehelka
. Archived from
the original
on 1 December 2008.
Doval, Ajit (20 December 2008).
"
'We need a US-model security info network'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by The New Indian Express. Archived from
the original
on 28 May 2012.
Doval, Ajit (23 October 2009).
"
'Time to stay a step ahead of terrorists'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by Vicky Nanjappa.
Rediff
.
See also
India portal
Ravindra Kaushik
– spy of India.
Bahirji Naik
– spy of
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
References
^
a
b
"Profile of Ajit Doval"
.
India TV News
. Retrieved
14 April
2025
.
^
"Top positions in country's security establishments helmed by men from Uttarakhand"
.
The Times of India
. 21 December 2016.
Archived
from the original on 21 December 2016
. Retrieved
20 March
2018
.
^
a
b
"Ajit Kumar Doval. Kirti Chakra"
.
Gallantry Awards, Ministry of Defence, Government of India
. Archived from
the original
on 18 August 2017.
^
a
b
"Ministry of Defence Press Release"
.
Press Information Bureau
. 13 February 2021. Archived from
the original
on 24 April 2025
. Retrieved
16 December
2025
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'Regime Changes In Neighbouring Countries A Result Of Bad Governance': NSA Ajit Doval"
.
News18
. 31 October 2025.
^
Joshi, Manoj
(11 May 2020).
"Answering the nuclear conundrum"
.
Observer Research Foundation
. Retrieved
11 February
2026
.
^
Iyer-Mitra, Abhijit (31 October 2014).
"Era of effective deterrence"
.
The Pioneer
. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024.
^
a
b
c
Kanwal, Rahul
(14 September 2015).
"How super sleuth Ajit Doval spooked Pakistan"
.
DailyO
. Retrieved
30 December
2025
.
^
a
b
c
Mander, Harsh
(8 June 2017).
"Harsh Mander: The taming of Kashmir is seen to be essential for the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra"
.
Scroll.in
. Retrieved
6 March
2026
.
^
"Watch Ajit Doval say if Pakistan does 'one Mumbai' it may lose Balochistan"
.
Scroll.in
. 6 January 2016.
^
Ahmed, Ali (26 May 2018).
"The Doval Scorecard. National Security in the Election Year"
.
Economic and Political Weekly
.
53
(21).
^
Dulat, A. S.
(December 2022). "9. Spooks as Friends: A Tale of Two Spymasters".
A Life in the Shadows. A Memoir
.
HarperCollins Publishers India
. p. 262.
ASIN
B0BPJV4XP6
.
ISBN
978-9356295971
.
^
Neelakantan, Shailaja (4 October 2016).
"When NSA Ajit Doval outlined India's new Pak strategy- defensive offense - perfectly"
.
The Times of India
.
ISSN
0971-8257
. Retrieved
5 March
2026
.
^
a
b
Ahmed (Retd.), Col. (Dr.) Ali (14 March 2019).
"Shashank Mishra asked: What is the difference between 'defensive offence' and 'offensive defence'?"
.
Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
. Archived from
the original
on 15 October 2019.
^
Sehgal, Rashme (2 August 2025).
"The dubiousness of being Doval"
.
National Herald
. Retrieved
6 March
2026
.
^
"Lalit Doshi Memorial Lecture Series: State Security, Statecraft and Conflict of Values. Interactive Session with Mr. Ajit Doval, KC"
(PDF)
.
Lalit Doshi Memorial Foundation
. 4 August 2015.
^
Doval, Ajit (22 July 2006).
"
'We Need To Shift To Offensive Defence'
"
(Interview). Interviewed by
Outlook
.
^
"
'Facts are facts': NSA Doval says terrorism in India has been countered; calls J&K 'theatre of proxy war' for Pak"
.
The Times of India
. 1 November 2025.
ISSN
0971-8257
. Retrieved
17 February
2026
.
^
"
'If Media is Quiet About Attacks, Terrorism Will End': NSA Doval"
.
TheQuint
. 14 October 2019
. Retrieved
17 February
2026
.
^
"Terrorism not linked to any religion, says NSA Ajit Doval"
.
Deccan Chronicle
. 12 July 2023
. Retrieved
2 March
2026
.
^
Qureshi, Siraj (6 December 2017).
"Colleges, universities have responsibilities to impart skills to students: Ajit Doval"
.
India Today
.
Archived
from the original on 20 September 2021
. Retrieved
5 September
2021
.
^
Santoshi, Neeraj (18 May 2018).
"NSA Ajit Doval has a four-point mantra for success"
.
Hindustan Times
.
Archived
from the original on 27 February 2019
. Retrieved
5 September
2021
.
^
"India's 'human capital' can counter China's 'rare mineral wealth': NSA Ajit Doval"
.
The New Indian Express
.
PTI
. 3 November 2018.
Archived
from the original on 5 September 2021
. Retrieved
5 September
2021
.
^
"Ajit Doval given honorary doctorate by HNB Garhwal University"
.
The Times of India
. 2 December 2019.
ISSN
0971-8257
. Retrieved
10 January
2026
.
^
Negi, Manjeet (16 February 2023).
"Need to increase farm productivity, says NSA Ajit Doval on food security"
.
India Today
. Retrieved
10 January
2026
.
^
"Central University of Punjab honours NSA Ajit Doval with D Litt"
.
Hindustan Times
. 20 March 2024
. Retrieved
10 January
2026
.
^
"The importance of being Ajit Doval: A 3rd term for the spymaster"
.
The Economic Times
. 14 June 2024.
ISSN
0013-0389
. Retrieved
27 December
2025
.
^
"Profile of Ajit Doval"
.
India TV News
.
Archived
from the original on 31 January 2022
. Retrieved
31 January
2022
.
^
Wangchuk, Rinchen Norbu (11 October 2018).
"1st IPS Officer to Win Kirti Chakra Just Became India's Most Powerful Bureaucrat!"
.
The Better India
.
Archived
from the original on 13 August 2022
. Retrieved
7 May
2022
.
^
"NSA Ajit Doval receives Scroll of Honour at National Defence College"
.
Hindustan Times
. 10 November 2022
. Retrieved
30 January
2026
.
^
Adrishya – Ajit Doval | Full Episode | Indian Spy Master | Operation Black Thunder | EPIC
, 27 July 2022,
archived
from the original on 17 March 2023
, retrieved
24 January
2023
– via YouTube
^
"Paresh Rawal gets into the skin of NSA Ajit Doval for 'Uri'
"
.
The Times of India
. 5 May 2021.
^
"Dhurandhar First Look: R Madhavan playing Ajit Doval in Ranveer Singh's film? Is this the real story"
.
India Forums
. Retrieved
4 September
2025
.
^
Vij, Palak (15 December 2025).
"Dhurandhar: A look at the real figures behind the characters, From Ajit Doval to Chaudhary Aslam"
.
Moneycontrol
.
Further reading
Doval doctrine
Pathak, Ojaswa.
"The Doval Doctrine: Analysing the Legality of India's Policy of Cross Border Counterterror Operations"
.
NLIU Law Review
.
X
(2):
195–
227.
Patel, Aakar
(13 May 2025).
"Cohesive Security Strategy Needed: 'Doval Doctrine' Can Be First Step"
.
Deccan Chronicle
.
Hussain, Naveed (6 July 2025).
"Doval Doctrine: India's trail of terror"
.
The Express Tribune
.
Gupta, Manoj (8 July 2025). Ratti, Pragati (ed.).
"
'No Proof, No Credibility': Indian Intelligence Sources Dismiss Pakistan's 'Doval Doctrine' Claims"
.
News18
.
Shah, Amita (17 August 2017).
"The Doval Doctrine: Never Say Never Again"
.
Open Magazine
. Vol. 9, no. 32.
Khare, Harish (17 July 2015).
"The Doval Doctrine, from High Definition to Low Yield"
.
The Wire
.
Malik, Tassawar Aziz; Qayyum, Sehrish (2022).
"Indian Political Doctrines"
(PDF)
.
Margalla Papers
(1):
18–
33.
Aaron, Sushil (16 September 2016).
"Narendra Modi is implementing the Doval doctrine in Kashmir"
.
Hindustan Times
.
Sharma, Srijan; Gupta, Prakrat (19 December 2023),
India's National Security Evolution: Urgent Need for Comprehensive Strategy
, Fair Observer
"Watch Ajit Doval say if Pakistan does 'one Mumbai' it may lose Balochistan"
.
Scroll.in
. 6 January 2016.
External links
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